Pahu-Naka - The Warrior's Vision Quest

By John J. Law

Pahu-Naka was a young and impetuous warrior. He had fought many battles against the white men alongside his father, Techunghinukue, and often shunned the rantings of the village's old shaman, Tataghana. After a raid on a wagon train, Pahu-Naka, at odds with his father, was infuriated to learn that the old warrior who led their small band was considering surrendering to being forced to live on the reservations. Taking a small group of warriors with him, Pahu-Naka left his father.
Not long after, soldiers came and slaughtered Techunghinukue, who had offered himself and his people in surrender. Pahu-Naka, after a vision quest, knew what had to be done. He knew he had to become both justice and vengeance for his father and his people. And, he would not rest until both were served.

• Language: English
• Publisher: J.C. Hulsey Books
• Release date: Dec 9, 2023
• ISBN: 9798223267584

Book preview

CHAPTER ONE

The Old Shaman and the Young Warrior

Pahu-Naka took a deep breath, composed himself and sat still. Or at least he tried to. The young brave's name roughly translated to Skittish Rabbit, and for good reason. He was a man of many skills but sitting still was not one of them. Unfortunately, during a vision quest, sitting still was the most essential skill.

Pahu-Naka gritted his teeth and considered this strange paradox. How does the old shaman do it? How can he sit still and simply do nothing? Pfah! This is ludicrous.

Pahu-Naka remembered old Tataghana. For the longest time, he could remember the old man as his tribe's shaman. He grew up seeing Tataghana in his old and familiar spot sitting in the Indian position, quietly communing with the spirits. He could still remember how, as a child, he found this quite strange. Truth be told, he still found it strange, even now.

What are you doing, Tataghana? Pahu-Naka would look up at the shaman with wide eyes filled with wonder as he asked this question, always asking the same question over and over, as if it were a refrain from some song.

The old shaman's response would be just as predictable. Tataghana would look down upon the young Indian child, and there would be no weariness in his eyes. He would smile and answer with the same response, to the same question. I am speaking to the spirits.

Pahu-Naka would look at the old shaman with surprise. Even if the answer was an all-too familiar one, it still brought him much amazement and wonder. Such was the nature of a child. 

Can you truly speak to the spirits? Why don't you just talk to them, as we are talking now? Can I speak to them? Can you see them? Why can I not see them?

Tataghana would raise up a hand to make the child pause. Just as the young child could not hide his curiosity, the old Indian could not hide his amusement.

Easy, young one. You have many questions, and I only have one mouth to answer them.

Pahu-Naka smiled to himself. The image in his head brought him a moment's joy. Even at that age, he had already lived up to his name. Looking back, the old shaman's patience was quite astonishing. That was something he could never do.

Pahu-naka would always ask the old shaman the same questions, in the same order. How can you speak to the spirits while we cannot?

To truly speak to the spirits, you need great dedication. It is a gift that will not be easily given.

Dedication? Do you mean like practice?

"Exactly like practice. If you do choose this path, know that the spirits will not be willing to speak with you. Not at first. You will have to try and try again. A great tree will not be felled with the first swing